Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yowanda’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Yowanda’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plant habit; uniform and freely flowering habit; decorative-type inflorescences with lavender-colored ray florets; and natural season flowering about October 3 rd  in the Northern Hemisphere.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘YOWANDA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium,commercially grown as a perennial garden Chrysanthemum,

The objective of the breeding program is to create new perennialgarden-type Chrysanthemum cultivars having uniformly rounded planthabit, inflorescences with desirable inflorescence forms, attractivefloret colors and good garden performance.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in February, 2003, in Salinas, Calif. ofChrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Yotabitha’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.16,110, as the female, or seed, parent with Chrysanthemum×morifolium‘Yoursula’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,641, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla.in November, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by vegetative cuttings wasfirst conducted in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. inJanuary, 2004. Asexual reproduction by cuttings has shown that theunique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Yowanda’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Yowanda’ as a new and distinct gardenChrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and full plant habit.    -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Decorative-type inflorescences.    -   5. Lavender-colored ray florets.    -   6. Natural season flowering occurs about October 3^(rd) in the        Northern Hemisphere.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newChrysanthemum differed from plants of the female parent, ‘Yotabitha’, inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were not as spherical as        plants of ‘Yotabitha’.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered three days later        than plants of ‘Yotabitha’ when grown under natural season        conditions.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and ‘Yotabitha’ differed in        ray floret color as plants of ‘Yotabitha’ had red-colored ray        florets.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newChrysanthemum differed from plants of the male parent, ‘Yoursula’, inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were larger than plants of        ‘Yoursula’.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences        than plants of ‘Yoursula’.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered two weeks later than        plants of ‘Yoursula’ when grown under natural season conditions.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Bold Yomelissa’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 14,735. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plantsof the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of ‘Bold Yomelissa’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more rounded than and        not as upright as plants of ‘Bold Yomelissa’.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were stronger than plants of        ‘Bold Yomelissa’.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had slightly smaller        inflorescences than plants of ‘Bold Yomelissa’.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Amor Dark Pink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 14,592. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plantsof the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of ‘Amor Dark Pink’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more rounded than and        not as upright as plants of ‘Amor Dark Pink’.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were stronger than plants of        ‘Amor Dark Pink’.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered more uniformly than        plants of ‘Amor Dark Pink’.    -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered five days earlier        than plants of ‘Amor Dark Pink’ when grown under natural season        conditions.    -   5. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had slightly smaller        inflorescences than plants of ‘Amor Dark Pink’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Yowanda’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘Yowanda’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Alva, Fla. during the late springand summer in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse and under conditionsand practices which approximate those generally used in commercialgarden Chrysanthemum production. During the production of the plants,day temperatures averaged 32° C. and night temperatures averaged 21° C.Plants were grown in 15-containers under short day/long nightconditions. Plants were ten weeks from planting when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium ‘Yowanda’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.— Chrysanthemum×morifolium,            ‘Yotabitha’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,110.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.— Chrysanthemum×morifolium            ‘Yoursula’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,641.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About four days at temperatures of            about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About ten to twelve            days at temperatures of about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Root habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Perennial decorative-type garden Chrysanthemum.            Stems upright and outwardly spreading giving a uniformly            mounded appearance to the plant. Freely branching habit,            about six lateral branches each with multiple secondary            branches; pinching is not required; dense and full plant            habit. Strong and vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 17 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 34 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to 148B to            148C.        -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About            5.7 cm. Width: About 4.5 cm. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:            Truncate with attenuate tendencies. Margin: Palmately lobed,            sinuses between lateral lobes mostly parallel. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescence; veins prominent on            lower surface. Color: Developing and fully expanded foliage,            upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 147B.            Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 147B. Petiole: Length: About            1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 147C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with            obovate-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on            terminals above foliage. Disc and ray florets arranged            acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences fragrant,            pungent.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants            flower about October 3^(rd) in the Northern Hemisphere.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good color            and substance for about 3.5 weeks in an outdoor nursery.            Inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—About 33 inflorescences develop            per lateral branch.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            1.3 cm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Close to 77C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5 cm. Depth (height):            About 1.9 cm. Disc diameter: About 1 mm. Receptacle            diameter: About 2.4 cm. Receptacle height: About 7 mm.            Receptacle color: Close to 147A.        -   Ray florets.—Shape: Obovate. Orientation: Initially upright,            then about 90° from vertical. Aspect: Initially incurved,            then mostly flat. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 7 mm.            Apex: Emarginate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety,            longitudinally ribbed. Number of ray florets per            inflorescence: About 182 arranged in about 16 whorls. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to 78C. When opening,            lower surface: Close to 77D. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 77C; color becoming closer to 84C with development.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 84C; color becoming            close to 84D with development.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Length: About 3 mm.            Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Number of disc florets per            inflorescence: About three. Color, immature and mature: Apex            and mid-section: Close to 153D. Base: Close to 145D.        -   Phyllaries.—Number of phyllaries per inflorescence: About 20            arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width:            About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower            surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Color, lower surface: Close to 147B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 2 cm. Length,            fourth peduncle: About 3.3 cm. Diameter, terminal peduncle:            About 3 mm. Angle: Mostly upright to 30° to 45° from            vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close            to 148B to 148C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About five            per floret. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color:            Close to 154D. Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther shape:            Oblong. Anther color: Close to 5B. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 5B. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About            5 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 11A.            Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 11C. Ovary            color: Close to 155D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Chrysanthemum has not been observed on plants grown under commercial    conditions.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    demonstrated excellent garden performance and will overwinter in    USDA Zones 5 and higher; plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been    observed to tolerate high temperature of about 38° C.

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yowanda’ as illustratedand described.